Austria's leisure airline connecting Europe's holiday destinations.
Founded
2003
Headquarters
Vienna, Austria
Niki was an Austrian leisure airline founded by Formula One racing driver Niki Lauda in 2003. Operating under the IATA code HG and ICAO code NLY with callsign FLYNIKI, the airline focused on low-cost and leisure travel across Europe, particularly serving sun destinations from Austria and Germany.
The airline was acquired by Air Berlin in 2011, becoming a key part of that group's operations. When Air Berlin filed for insolvency in August 2017, Niki's fate became uncertain, leading to a complex series of attempted acquisitions involving Lufthansa and ultimately IAG's Vueling before insolvency proceedings concluded.
Niki ceased operations in December 2017 following the collapse of Air Berlin and failed acquisition attempts. A brief revival effort occurred in early 2018 when Niki Lauda reacquired the brand assets and relaunched operations under the Laudamotion name, which was subsequently acquired by Ryanair.
Hubs & network
Niki operated primarily from Vienna International Airport (VIE) and also utilized Palma de Mallorca Airport as a key leisure hub.
Fleet
Niki operated a fleet composed mainly of Airbus A319 and A320 family narrowbody aircraft.
Notable facts
- ›Founded by Formula One World Champion Niki Lauda in 2003.
- ›Acquired by Air Berlin in 2011, becoming part of that group's leisure operations.
- ›Ceased operations in December 2017 after Air Berlin's insolvency.
- ›Niki Lauda reacquired the brand in early 2018 and relaunched as Laudamotion.
- ›Laudamotion was subsequently majority-acquired by Ryanair in 2018.
This profile is provided for general information only. Contact details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airline's official website before acting on them.
